Monday, May 18, 2026: Actor Harsh Chhaya has once again opened up about his divorce from Shefali Shah, saying that separation should be viewed as a personal decision rather than a social stigma.
Harsh and Shefali, who first met while working on Zee TV’s popular show Hasratein, tied the knot in 1994 before ending their marriage in 2000. Looking back, Harsh said he had sensed the relationship drifting apart long before the final decision was made. According to him, he had mentally prepared himself months in advance and chose to channel his energy into work and self-growth instead of letting the separation consume him.
Sharing how he coped during that phase, the actor admitted the experience was emotionally draining and said he allowed himself to fully process the pain instead of pretending to be unaffected. Harsh revealed that opening up to people, having honest conversations, and eventually meeting new people helped him move forward. He said he went on several dates over a span of a few months, describing it as part of his healing journey.
Harsh also questioned why divorce continues to carry such heavy social judgement. He said relationships should not be prolonged once both people realise they are unhappy, adding that ending things sooner can sometimes be healthier than forcing a marriage to continue. He maintained that separation is not necessarily a failure, but simply a reality that some couples face.
Harsh Chhaya Says Ending Unhappy Marriage Was Right
In a recent conversation with Lallantop, Harsh Chhaya spoke candidly about the collapse of their marriage, the emotional aftermath, and how he slowly rebuilt himself after the split, including going on several dates in the months that followed.
This is not the first time the actor has reflected on the divorce. In earlier interviews, Harsh had described the separation as painful but inevitable, calling it a chapter that has long been closed. Shefali Shah too has previously spoken about the marriage, saying she gave the relationship her all before realising that moving on was the best decision for everyone involved.
After their split, Shefali Shah married filmmaker Vipul Shah in 2000, and the couple have two sons, Aryaman and Maurya. Harsh later married Suneeta Sengupta in 2003. He was recently seen in Undekhi Season 4.